The waters between the west coast of Canada (the mainland) and our own Vancouver Island (comparable to Th Netherlands in size) are dotted with many islands of various sizes. Most of them have been, or are inhabited. This past weekend, Tim and I took a short boat excursion to Thetis Island. It's very rural, with no town to speak of, but it's only a short ferry ride to a village with most services. On Saturday mornings there are 2 farmer's markets on Thetis. We purchased a loaf of freshly made bread and a cinnamon bun for Tim.
There's a small red schoolhouse with one room. The student population fluctuates from year to year - this year there are 12 students. We peeked in the windows and counted the desks. High school students take the ferry across to a larger school.
Roads wind along the shoreline and across the interior of the island. Walking trails lead to abandoned barns and rocky inlets.
On Saturday we walked south to north, covering about half of the length of the island - 5 miles there and back. Tall grasses waved at us as we passed and the daisies nodded with friendly smiles.
Abandoned outbuildings reminded us of years past when hardy souls made a living from the sea and the soil.
From a quiet shelter in the trees, a deer watched us pass by. He didn't seem startled or frightened, merely attentive.
In the evening, long shadows fell across limpid water. A belted kingfisher flew from one tree to another, patrolling the shoreline, chattering at each stop. It moved much too quickly for me to capture on camera.
In a narrow passage between two islands a white house perches on a wooded point. It looks idyllic, doesn't it?
Here's a closer look. Would you like to live in such a remote place? I like the idea of it, but I wouldn't want to live too far from family and friends. The peace of this place is appealing, but perhaps it would become lonely.
Daisies and ferns lined the pathways and roads. I picked a small bouquet for the boat, thinking of Kathleen in the movie "You've Got Mail" who said, "Daisies are the friendliest flowers."
Linking with Mosaic Monday, hosted by Maggie of Normandy Life.
